Colombian Poet Piedad Bonnett Wins Federico Garcia Lorca Poetry Prize

Colombian poet Piedad Bonnett has been awarded the 23rd Federico García Lorca International Poetry Prize, one of the most prestigious honors for Spanish-language poets. The prize was announced on October 13 at the Federico Garcia Lorca Center in Granada, Spain, after a jury meeting. Bonnett, 75, expressed astonishment at receiving the award, particularly since she had just been awarded another major literary prize less than a month earlier.

She credited the recognition to the broader reach her work has gained, noting that it helps expose Colombian literature to audiences in Spain and Latin America. The jury commended Bonnett for her ability to write about profound themes like loss, fear, love, and mortality with a unique simplicity and clarity. Born in 1951, Bonnett has published poetry, novels, plays, and nonfiction works throughout her career, exploring themes such as childhood, violence, and urban life.

Her 2021 anthology, Lo terrible es el borde, delves into themes of knowledge and suffering. Bonnett's 2013 book, Lo que no tiene nombre, deals with the subject of her son's suicide and the challenges of expressing grief through language. The Federico García Lorca Prize, established in 2004, recognizes living poets who have significantly contributed to Spanish-language literature.

Bonnett will receive a €20,000 prize (approximately $22,400) and the publication of an anthology of her poetry, along with literary events dedicated to her work.